This is a very charming pair of white biscuit figures made by Minton in around 1835. The pair is actually a near-pair: the gentleman is a gardener with a basket of fruit, the lady has a garland of flowers and they each actually belonged to different companions, but go together perfectly.
Minton was one of the pioneers of English china production alongside other great potters such as Spode, Davenport, Ridgway, Coalport and others. They were located in Staffordshire and were known specifically for their wonderfully fine white bone china and bright colours; there is a colour called "Minton Blue" which is a fresh azure blue that was very fashionable during the Victorian era. Throughout the different phases of its existence, the factory made top quality creamware, porcelain, majolica and ultimately the finest parian porcelain. Minton excelled in their decorations and gilt work; these were often executed by artists who came from the Sèvres factory in France and brought their skills with them.
The male figure can be found in Geoffrey Godden's book "Minton Pottery & Porcelain of the First Period 1793-1850" in plate 146.
Figures like these were used to adorn the dinner table when dessert was served; groups of figures could serve to express something about the host, the guests, or to direct the conversation. Dancers and musicians were popular among these figure series. Minton used the figures a lot on candle sticks and the foots of high tazzas.
The figures are unmarked as is usual for figures of this particular era. The male one has an inscribed "No 09" on the underside, which is a mystery as the actual number of this figure in the Minton shape book is 192.
CONDITION REPORT: The figures are in excellent restored condition. They have a little bit of dirt on them, that can probably be washed off carefully. Both the male and the female have an arm that has been broken off and was restored; the male head is also placed back after a break. The restorations have been done well and don't stand out, and you can see them in the last two pictures.
Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.
There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger.
DIMENSIONS : 19cm (7.5'') in height.
Minton pair of white biscuit figures of gardener and lady, ca 1835
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